Saturday, May 02, 2009

COMMENTS: Release the rabbits! In Young's last start, the Rockies stole eight bases against the Padre lamppost. The Dodgers, as Vin likes to say, have a few rabbits of their own, especially if Juan Pierre gets in the game. Eight stolen bases might be a bit much to expect, but how about one for each bunny Gromit is holding?

The Dodgers also have a Wolf, one pitching better than his numbers indicate. Vin tells us the Dodgers are batting .370 and averaging more than eight runs a game at Dodger Stadium (although those figures are now a tad lower after last night's 1-0 nail-biter), so Wolf would certainly appreciate some early run support. I know I would, because I ran out of Pepto during the ninth inning last night.

A win tonight would give the Dodgers the series win in this four-game set against the Padres, who suddenly find themselves under .500 (at 11-12) after a hot start which at one point put them at 9-3. The also-sub-.500 Diamondbacks and Nationals follow the Padres into town next week, so now's the time for the Dodgers to fatten up like, well, a wolf devouring rabbits. (Full circle. Ta-da!)

"Leach, a 26-year-old lefty, gives you a lot of strikeouts -- and a lot of walks. He has allowed one earned run in 13 innings this season, despite giving up 12 hits and walking eight. He has 17 strikeouts.

"A year ago, splitting time between Inland Empire (A) and Jacksonville (AA), Leach had a 2.60 ERA with 34 walks and 49 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings. He's a 2005 sixth-round pick out of Mississippi's Delta State University."